Data card notching machine



Marh 24, 1964 I R, E, CONE 3,125,933

DATA CARD NOTCHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR RICH o E. CONE ,l

ATTORNEYS March 24, 1964 R. E. CONE DATA CARD NOTCHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 1, 1963 Fig-4 INVENTOR RICHARDyEfiNE K ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,125,933 DATA CARD NOTCHING MACHINE Richard E. (Zone, Athens, Ghio, assignor to Royal McBee Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 255,576 Claims. (Cl. 90 15.1)

This invention relates to a machine for pre-notching cards used in information storage and retrieval systems. More particularly, the invention relates to an automatic notching machine capable of cutting notches in the edges of a large number of cards at the same time thus eliminating handling of small amounts of cards and accordingly increasing production.

Various methods and machines have been used in the past to cut marginal notches in such cards but in nearly all cases, the few exceptions being factory and not field machines, the number of cards that can be pre-notched at one time comprises a stack of one inch or less in height. Such machines are exemplified in US. Patents 2,690,219 and 2,815,811 for notching cards such as disclosed in US. Patent 2,514,531. While this stack height is satisfactory in many instances, it obviously comprises a bottleneck Where many thousands of cards must be notched for operation of a given data recording system. Under such circumstances, unless a card stack of substantial height, for example, up to between seven and eight inches or more, can be pro-grooved, the entire system is affected, as conventional techniques and notching apparatus are of insufiicient capacity to keep up with the demand for notched cards in the absence of the uneconomical employment of numerous operators. One type of machine in commercial use includes a V-shaped knife that is powered in various ways to pre-notch a stack of cards but in practice such machine cannot accommodate a stack of over one inch. Furthermore, the knives in these machines soon become dull and, rather than cut the cards, tear them. Then too, the cards usually must be notched at several spaced marginal stations; this necessitates maintenance of vertical card registry as the stack is moved from station to station. It occasionally occurs that the cards in the stack become displaced horizontally so as to move slightly out of vertical registry. If the cards, in this condition, are notched, they are mined, resulting in substantial loss both in time and card value, these cards being relatively costly. Such horizontal displacement also occasionally occurs by reason of the pressure of the knife as it shears through the card-s, this tendency becoming more pronounced as the knife loses its keen edge.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide a machine for pre-grooving a stack of data cards that obviates the above difiiculties and disadvantages and substantially facilitates the notching of a large number of cards during a single notching operation.

Another object is to provide a machine of the above nature that is sturdy, structurally simple and inexpensive and that is capable of reliable operation over extended periods by inexperienced personnel Without any danger of injury to the operator.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In the drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, partially broken away, perspective view of the front of the machine;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

3,125,933 Patented Mar. 24, 1964 FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a portion of the card stack pressure device; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view showing the operative and inoperative positions of the notching saw.

In general the machine comprises a support on which a table is mounted for slidable transverse movement. A stationary vertical back plate having a centrally disposed slot is carried by the support with its bottom edge slightly spaced from the slotted rear edge of the table. Thus the table may be traversed so that the slots therein may be selectively aligned with the back plate slot. A post-like card end guide is movably mounted on the table and may be adjustably held by a side adjustment knob. Thus the table, back plate and card end guide comprise a three dimensional card stack positioning device whereby a stack of cards may be selectively and accurately located with respect to the back plate slot. A pressure plate is mounted on the table for downward movement to clamp a stack of cards in registered position against the table top. A motor-saw assembly is mounted on the support for horizontal movement to project the saw through the back plate slot and for vertical movement to notch the stack of cards. Horizontal movement of the saw and motor is effected by a push solenoid while vertical two way movement thereof is provided by a motor driven lead screw threaded through nuts carried by the motor plate. Suitable controls, described in detail below, control the motors and solenoid whereby the saw is automatically driven through a notching cycle without any intervention by the operator, the cycle broadly comprising projection of the saw through the back plate slot, vertical downward traverse of the saw to notch the stack of cards, retraction of the saw through the slot and return upward traverse of the saw to rest position.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 the several operative elements are carried by various portions of a frame or support, which portions will hereinafter be commonly designated 10. This support carries a pair of table supporting rods 11 and 12 which slidably mount a plurality of blocks 13 (see also FIGURE 2) on which a table 14 is secured, the table thus being mounted on the support for transverse movement relative thereto. A card end guide 15 includes a portion 15a which extends through a slot 14a in the table and provides means for slidably securing the guide to the table whereby it may be transversely adjusted by means of an adjustment knob 16. The rear edge of table 14 is provided with a plurality of slots 1'7 for a purpose to be described.

Support 10 also carries a stationary vertical back plate 18, which is spaced slightly to the rear of slots 17 thus to permit unimpeded traverse of table 14, and which has a vertical slot 19 formed therein. It may now be seen that table 14, guide 15 and back plate 18 form a three dimensional card stack supporting and positioning device which enables quick, selective and accurate positioning of a stack of cards relative to slot 19 in the back plate. To hold table 14 initially in its adjusted transverse position it is provided with a pawl 20 which is spring biased into toothed engagement with a rack 21 secured to support 10, a finger piece 22 being connected to the pawl to enable disengagement thereof from the rack when it is desired to traverse the table. Thus a stack of cards may be placed on table 14 with the rear edges against plate 18 and the end edges against guide 15. Thereafter pawl 20 may be disengaged from rack 21 and table 14 adjustably traversed until that portion of the stack of cards to be notched registers with slot 19. Thereafter pawl 20 is released to re-engage rack 21, the table and accordingly the card stack thus being locked in properly located position relative to slot 19. After being so located the cards are clamped in place against table 14 by manual operation of a pressure device generally indicated at 23, next to be described.

Pressure device 23 includes a bar 24 secured to the upper ends of a pair of racks 25 and 26 as by straps 27 and 28 respectively. These racks slidably extend through table 14 and have springs 29 and 3-0 coiled thereabout respectively which bear against table 14 and bar 24 to bias the bar upwardly. A pair of blocks 31 and 32 are secured to the underside of table 14 adjacent the respective ends thereof and rotatably support a cross shaft 33 to the left hand end (FIGURE 1) of which is secured an operating lever 34. Shaft 33 has secured thereto a pair of pinions, such as pinion 33a (FIGURE 3) which are respectively juxtaposed to racks 25 and 26. Pinion 33a has sufficient teeth removed along an arcuate area 33b to provide a by-pass for the teeth on rack 25. The other pinion (not shown) is similarly edentate for the same purpose with respect to rack 2-6. It will now appear'that after a stack of cards has been located with respect to back plate slot 19, as described above, bar 24 may be forced downwardly against the push of springs 29 and 30 until it engages the top of the stack of cards. Thereafter lever 34 may be pulled forwardly (counterclockwise in FIGURE 1) causing the toothed portions of the pinions to mesh with the teeth on racks 25 and Z6 pulling the racks and accordingly the pressure bar 24 down. Thus the pressure bar compacts the stack of cards and clamps it immovably against table 14. If desired, the card stack locating procedure may be carried out by first clamping the stack against the table and then adjusting the table so as to properly locate the card stack relative to slot 19. Having so located the stack of cards, the cards are in position to be notched as will now be described.

As shown in FIGURE 2 a motor-saw assembly, generally indicated at it) is suitably fastened to a mount 41 pivotally secured to a plate 42 by a pivot pin 43. The forward edge 42:: of plate 42 is slidably disposed is the slot 43:: of a slotted guide bar 43 secured at its top and bottom to support 11 To the rear of plate 42 are secured upper and lower nuts 44 and 45 through which a lead screw 46 is threaded, the screw being rotatably mounted in support it) and its lower end 46a carrying a pulley 47 connected by a belt 4-23 to a drive pulley 49 in turn connected to a reversible motor 56 mounted on the frame. Thus operation of motor in one direction rotates screw 46 to drive plate 42 and accordingly the motor-saw assembly 4h downwardly, reverse operation of the motor driving the assembly upwardly. At its upper end mount 4-1 carries a thrust pin 51 which extends through a slot 421) in plate 42. A push solenoid 52 is fastened to the top of plate 42 in such position that its core 52a engages pin. 51 which is held against the core by a pull spring 53 connected to mount 41 and plate 42. Thus the motor-saw assembly 41 is constantly biased clockwise.

The motor-saw assembly includes a motor 54 which is directly attached to mount 41 and a circular saw 55 conventionally connected to the armature shaft of the motor, the saw being aligned with slot 19. The lower end of mount 41 has adjustably secured thereto a bracket 41:; adapted to engage and close a motor switch 56 which controls motor 54, i.e. when solenoid 52 is energized its core 52a pushes mount 41 counterclockwise causing finger 41a to engage and close switch 56 which effects energization of the saw motor; this movement of mount 41 also projects saw 55' a limited distance through slot 19 as determined by an adjustable stop 57 secured to plate 42, against which mount 41 abuts.

Adjacent the lower and upper ends of screw 46 and secured to support 113 are respectively a reversing switch 58 and a limit switch 59 which are connected in the circuit of screw motor Sil in such manner as to control the operation of screw as and accordingly the vertical movements of slide plate 2-2; Reversing switch 53 is 4 closed by a resilient blade 66, attached to plate 42, when the plate reaches the bottom of its travel to reverse motor 5%). Limit switch 59 is opened by a spring biased plunger 61, attached to plate 42, when the plate reaches the top of its travel to stop motor 56.

A latching solenoid 62 is fastened to support 10 beneath table 14 and its core 62a is pivotally attached, as by a pin 63 to the lower end 64a of a latch 64 pivoted by a pin 65 on a bracket 66 secured to back plate 18. A spring 67 is secured to latch end 64a and back plate 13 to bias the latch counterclockwise. The upper end 6412 of latch 64 is adapted upon energization of solenoid 62 to engage a rack 68 secured to blocks 31 and 32 this rack being similar to rack 21. Upon deenergization of solenoid 62 spring 67 withdraws latch 64- from the rack.

Table 14 (FIGURE 1) has a slot 14b formed therein through which extends the button of a conditioning switch 6%. This switch is so located with respect to plate 18 and guide 15 that deposit of a card stack under pressure, as described above, closes the switch to condition the circuitry of the several energizable devices described above. Two operating switches 70 and 71 are conveniently mounted on the front of support it beneath table 14, these switches being connected in the circuits of push solenoid 52 and screw motor 50. As the circuitry for the several electro-responsive devices is conventional no detailed description thereof is necessary.

In operation, a card stack is placed on table 14 as described on top of conditioning switch 69. The table is appropriately adjusted to register the desired notch location and one of its slots 17 with slot w and is initially locked in place by the manually controlled latch 20 which engages rack 21. Pressure bar 24 is then lowered and clamped down on the card stack by pulling lever 34 forward. This closes conditioning switch 69. Next switch 70 is closed to actuate solenoid 62 which causes latch 64 to engage rack 68 to positively lock table 14 in its adjusted position. Switch '70 must be held closed throughout the notching cycle otherwise the machine will stop. Switch 71 which is in circuit with switch '70, is next closed causing energization of push solenoid 52 and saw motor 54. As mount 4-1 swings counterclockwise to project the saw through slot 19 (to the broken line position in FlGURE 4) it closes switch 56 to energize screw motor 56 causing downward move ment of the saw to notch the cards in the stack. When the motor-saw assembly reaches its lower limit of travel (broken line position in FIGURE 4) blade 6t? engages reversing switch 58 which is so connected as not only to reverse motor 59, causing the motor-saw assembly to travel upwardly, but also to de-energize solenoid 52 and saw motor 54. Accordingly spring 53 retracts the motorsaw assembly at the start of the upward travel thereof which continues until plunger 61 engages limit switch 59 to de-energize motor 50. The system cannot be reactuated until switch 71 is opened and reclosed.

From the foregoing it may be seen that both of the 'operators hands are remote from the saw during the notching cycle. If he releases lever 34, springs 29 and 39 will relieve the pressure of bar 24 on the card stack, which is necessary to maintain switch as closed, and the entire system will be deenergized. If he opens switch 70 the system will be shut off. If he releases switch 71 the saw will retract and its motor will be stopped. Hence all risk of injury to the operator is precluded.

Thus it will appear that I have provided a machine for pre-notching data cards that attains the several objects set forth in a thoroughly practical and eflicient manner.

As other embodiments of the invention are possible and as modifications of the one disclosed may be made, all without departing from the scope of the invention it is to be understood that the foregoing should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a machine for marginally notching a stack of data cards, the combination of,

a support,

horizontal and vertical card locating and supporting members mounted on said support,

pressure means associated with said members and operable to hold a stack of cards to be notched in vertical registry against said members, one of said members having a vertical slot formed therein,

a power driven rotatable cutting element movably mounted on said support adjacent said slotted member,

and means for moving said element outwardly through said slot thence downwardly past said (horizontal member thereby to notch a stack of cards supported by said members.

2. In a machine for marginally notching a stack of data cards, the combination of,

a support,

horizontal and vertical card locating and supporting members mounted on said support,

means associated with said members and operable to hold a stack of cards to be notched in vertical registry against said members, one of said members having a vertical slot formed therein,

an electric motor,

a circular saw blade connected to the armature of said motor,

and means mounting said motor and saw on said support adjacent said slotted member for movement horizontally and vertically thereof, said saw blade being disposed in alignment with said slot whereby said blade may be moved horizontally through said slot and vertically of a stack of cards on said horizontal member to marginally notch said cards.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means mounting said horizontal member on said support for horizontal movement relative to said slot thereby to selectively adjust the position of the stack of cards relative to said cutting element.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including electromechanical means operable prior to actuation of said cutting element for locking said horizontal member in adjusted position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said mounting means includes a plate slidably mounted on said support for vertical movement,

means pivotally mounting said motor and saw on said plate whereby said horizontal movement can be effected,

and energizable means mounted on said plate and op eratively associated with said motor and saw to elfect said horizontal movement thereof upon energization.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 including energizable power driven means for etfecting said vertical movement of the motor and saw,

and means responsive to horizontal movement of said motor and saw for effecting energization of said energizable means. 7. In a machine for marginally notch-ing a stack of data cards, the combination of,

a support, a horizontal table mounted on said support, a vertical back plate mounted on said support and spaced from the rear edge of said table and having a vertical slot formed therein,

and a power driven saw mounted on said support adjacent said slot for limited horizontal movement therethrough and for vertical movement therealong whereby a stack of cards located on said table against said plate is notched upon vertical movement of said saw.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a card stack pressure plate mounted on said table for vertical movement relative thereto,

and manually operable means connected to said pressure plate for forcing it downwardly against a stack of cards to hold said cards motionless on said table.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means mounting said table on said support for horizontal adjustment relative to said back plate,

and means operable prior to actuation of said saw to lock said table in adjusted position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 including a card end locating member movably mounted on said table whereby said table, said back plate and said locating member support and locate the stack of cards in notching position relative to said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,080,073 Morehouse Dec. 2, 1913 1,980,502 Rouse Nov. 13, 1934 2,007,827 Fletcher July 9, 1935 2,410,905 Slusher Nov. 12, 1946 2,649,153 Barley Aug. 18, 1953 2,718,177 Karmann Sept. 20, 1955 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR MARGINALLY NOTCHING A STACK OF DATA CARDS, THE COMBINATION OF, A SUPPORT, HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CARD LOCATING AND SUPPORTING MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, PRESSURE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MEMBERS AND OPERABLE TO HOLD A STACK OF CARDS TO BE NOTCHED IN VERTICAL REGISTRY AGAINST SAID MEMBERS, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING A VERTICAL SLOT FORMED THEREIN, A POWER DRIVEN ROTATABLE CUTTING ELEMENT MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT ADJACENT SAID SLOTTED MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID ELEMENT OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID SLOT THENCE DOWNWARDLY PAST SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER THEREBY TO NOTCH A STACK OF CARDS SUPPORTED BY SAID MEMBERS. 